How to Write Sports Romance 3.0
Writing sports romance is a topic that I have covered several times in the past. It is one of my favorite subjects to cover, and that’s only natural since I’m a sports romance novelist. However, I’ve also written about it multiple times because it’s not a subject that I see many articles about. And when someone asks what I do and I tell them, they always seem to have questions about it. Sports romance, by far, is nothing new; yet, it seems to cause confusion.
The way I view sports romance writing is that it is a niche; although, some would classify it as a category. I don’t think it matters much either way as to what one calls it. It is the function that is important. The main point of discrepancy that I find regarding sports romance is the definition. For some, the inclusion of a main character who is an athlete is enough to classify a story as romance. However, if sports does not play an important role in the story, then, in my opinion, it does not meet the criteria of a sports romance. Let’s look at it another way.
For a book to be considered a romance, it must have two elements. First, the love story/romance must be the most vital element to the story. If the romance can be removed and the story functions as well, then, it’s not a romance. It would be considered some other kind of story with a romantic component.
Second, it must have a happily ever after (HEA) or a happily for now (HFN) ending. There are people who will argue that these types of endings aren’t necessary for a story to be considered a romance, but this is a traditional definition and one that the Romance Writers of America (RWA) uses. Romeo & Juliet is frequently used as a rebuttal to this point, but Romeo & Juliet is not considered a romance. It is considered a drama or tragedy. Did it have a love component that played a significant role? Yes. Did it have a HEA? No. And it was the lack of the HEA/HFN that negates it from being a romance. But don’t take it from me. I’m not the only person who is saying this. There are plenty of people with far more knowledge and expertise in writing and literature that have this opinion.
Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice, is a classic romance. There are many plots and subplots in this story, but the main plot is how the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy develops. Without this romance, the story collapses. It ends with the couple tying the knot; a.k.a., a HEA.
A sports romance is, first and foremost, a romance. It needs a Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. The romance is center staged and ends in a HEA or HFN. But if it stopped there, it would only be a romance and not a sports romance. In chapter 43 of Pride and Prejudice, there is a passage about fish. Mr. Darcy is noted to be a hunter and a fisherman, both of which can be considered sports. So, with this inclusion, does this classify Pride and Prejudice as a sports romance? Most would argue that it does not because it adds nothing to the story.
The Natural by Bernard Malamud is one of the greatest novels about baseball ever written. It is a story about baseball player Roy Hobbs who is naturally gifted in playing America’s favorite pastime. In the story, there is a romantic relationship (of sorts) between Roy and Harriet Bird and later with Roy and Memo Paris and Roy and Iris Lemon. Because there is romance in the story, does this make it a sports romance? Again, most would argue that it does not because romance is not the center focus. Baseball is at the core.
Thus, a sports romance is a blend. It is a story where romance comes first and sports play a significant role. Removing either the romance component or the sports component would change or damage the story. Therefore, a sports romance contains a romantic relationship that is the center of the story, a HEA or HFN ending, and a sport that notably impacts the plot. Simple, right? Yet, so often a book labeled as a sports romance will be missing one of these key ingredients, and usually, it’s the sports element.
Here’s another angle. Consider the movie Rocky—the original. Hands down, this was a boxing movie. Without the boxing scenes, audiences wouldn’t have shown up. People purchased tickets to see Rocky Balboa, the Italian Stallion, kick some butt. It didn’t matter whose butt as long as it was thoroughly kicked. But in the first Rocky, the audience sees the titular character fall in love with Adrian Pennino. This is a wonderful subplot. However, if the writers and producers had cut that part from the movie, would audiences still have shown up? Sure. How can I say that with a degree of certainty? Well, just look at the subsequent Rocky movies and how successful they have been. While the romantic relationship between Rocky and Adrian was present in the sequels, it was scaled back from the first.
Another element that is critical for a sports romance—and this should go without saying—is knowing the sport you’re writing about. The majority of readers who read sports romance know and understand sports. They will know when a writer doesn’t know what he/she is talking about. During the beta phase of writing one of my novels, a beta called me out for goofing on a rule. At first, I was wondering what she meant, but upon closer inspection, I realized the error. I accidently had mixed up character details in my head when writing the scene and that hiccup caused me to write a rule violation. My character’s age was off by a year. Neither my editor of me had caught it, but the beta—an avid sports fan—did. And I’m grateful that she did because if she hadn’t other readers would have. The way I look at it, readers invest in a book. They read the story for the experience, and authors should do their best to ensure that experience is authentic. That being said doesn’t mean that an author doesn’t have the creative freedom to shake things up a bit.
In my Locker Room Love series, I invented teams for the NHL, NFL, and SEC. So, if I proclaim one as a Stanley Cup champion, well, everyone will get this is a bit of fiction. And if I wanted to invent a new NHL rule, I could as long as I sold it to the readers that this is what I was doing. It’s all about the setup. Readers understand when a writer is using artistic license, and they know when an author has just plain goofed up.
Another important step in writing sports romance is balancing the jargon. I don’t mind admitting that I frequently struggle with this. Growing up around sports and having the majority of my friends into sports, I often do not notice when I throw out a sports term that non-sports fans won’t understand. And with my characters being athletes, they would not have a need to explain these terms to each other. Doing so would seem out of place. Additionally, sports fan readers familiar may become bored if they are bogged down with reading definitions of terms they already know.
That does it. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.
When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.
Preorder your copy at:
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Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.
Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.
Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.
Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.
For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.
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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.
Author Bio
Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.
